PASSENGERS are paying £350 for a luxury train journey which will see antique train carriages arrive in Oxford.

About 200 rail enthusiasts have so far paid to ride the British Pullman Orient Express from London to Oxford at a cost of £2.65 per mile.

For their money the passengers will enjoy a three-course supper with Champagne, brunch with bellini cocktails and the optional extra of Sevruga caviar at a cost of £90 for 50g.

It is in contrast to some of the complaints regular commuters to London make about comfort.

Passengers are set to depart from London Victoria at 9am on Saturday pulled by a steam locomotive before pulling into Didcot and being tugged by a diesel engine for the remaining journey to Oxford.

The journey is expected to be followed closely by trainspotters eager to catch a glimpse of its 11 dining cars, built between 1927 and 1938.

Parlour cars to look out for include Perseus', which was used in Winston Churchill's funeral train, and Zena', which featured in the film Agatha .

The luxury locomotive, which carries a total of 252 passengers, is crewed by 25 uniformed stewards who provide extras such as a bouquet of flowers for £45 and branded French crystal Champagne glasses at £80 for two.

Anna Nash, publicity manager for the Orient Express, said: "Often trainspotters know in advance where trains are going to be and they are usually waiting at the station to welcome them and noting down the engine numbers and carriages and taking photos.

"It's very different to a modern train. Its age means it holds a lot of mystery and when people see it in the flesh there is a general sense of wonderment about the locomotive and the people that are travelling on it."